Premier says transit referendum doesn’t have to be in November

Premier Christy Clark says she realizes that the region’s mayors want more time to get together on a vote on transportation infrastructure that could be worth billions of dollars.Photo by
Jonathan Hayward

VICTORIA — B.C. Premier Christy Clark is open to delaying a Metro Vancouver transit-infrastructure referendum that the area's mayors fear is destined for a head-on collision with voters.

Clark said Monday the timing for a proposed fall referendum on Metro Vancouver's transportation system is open for discussion. But she did not say the earlier promise of a fall transit referendum was off.

In Vancouver, Clark said she understands the region's mayors want more time to get together on a proposed region-wide vote that could be worth billions of dollars.

"It's complex," said Clark. "I'm always happy to talk. We want this to work for the citizens of the Lower Mainland."

The premier had promised a Metro Vancouver transit referendum during last spring's B.C. election campaign.

Last week, Transportation Minister Todd Stone said the government was committed to a fall referendum tied to the November municipal elections. Stone said the Liberals were preparing to introduce legislation this spring that confirmed the date.

But Clark said talks are now underway with the mayors about the date.

"We sure would like it to be on the ballot in November," she said. "We're talking to them about that."

The mayors, who represent Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and 15 other municipalities, have already said the only thing they are united in is their opposition to a fall referendum date.

North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton, who is the chairman of Metro Vancouver mayor's transit committee, said he received a telephone message from Stone last weekend suggesting the government was open to reconsidering its referendum route.

"I do quite often communicate with the minister and I did get a courtesy call on the weekend indicating that they were likely doing a bit of a re-think," Walton said. "We exchanged voice mails and it indicated to me the province is reassessing things a bit."

He said it appears the government wants to cool the rhetoric about forcing a referendum.

"The public expects us to develop policy jointly," Walton said. "We don't like focusing in a quasi-opposition role. We want to have that constructive dialogue and try and solve this together."

Stone suggested last week the mayors are not thinking beyond the boundaries of their own municipalities when considering a transit vision that includes much of the Lower Mainland.

"While the mayors have put numerous ideas out there in terms of what priorities should be for each of their respective communities, to date, they have not agreed on a common vision, a total price tag for that vision or how to specifically pay for it," Stone said.

He said Vancouver wants an extended transit line along Broadway, near the city's downtown core, while Surrey is examining three light-rapid transit lines and other municipalities are calling for better roads, new bridges and more buses.

Stone said the legislation he plans to introduce in the spring, will confirm a region-wide referendum in the fall but the question will be formulated at a later date.

Walton said the mayors are virtually in the dark about the province's plans for Metro Vancouver transit, including costs, projects and timelines.

"At this point we have no idea what the province would allow even to go on the referendum as a source of funding," he said.

Walton said taxes on vehicles, gasoline and revenues from the government's carbon tax are possible transit revenue sources, but most of the infrastructure projects also require provincial and funding commitments, likely in the billions of dollars.

"It's of grave concern to us," he said. "The consequences of this referendum not passing are huge."

Walton said two recent provincewide votes on the harmonized sales tax and the single-transferable vote were soundly defeated despite costly and extended public information campaigns.

Opposition New Democrat transit critic George Heyman said the government should dump its fall referendum idea all together and embark on negotiations with the Metro Vancouver politicians to develop a fair and equitable formula for funding and improving transit.

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